Manilva

History

The fertility of the area and its privileged geographical location, very close to the sea, have been a great attraction for all the ancient peoples who decided to settle in this area and who made Manilva populated since prehistoric times.
The moments of the Late Bronze Age are especially well represented thanks to the settlement of Los Castillejos de Alcorrín, an enclave from the 9th century BC. which shows the contacts existing at this time between the indigenous world and the first Phoenician settlers.

The Roman presence has been documented since the turn of the era, thanks to small farms close to lands of high agricultural value. These would be gradually abandoned, possibly due to the mobilization of the population towards the coast, motivated among other causes by the great boom that the fish salting industries will take throughout the 2nd century. A good example is the archaeological complex around the Castillo de la Duquesa, made up of the remains of a villa, thermal baths, a necropolis and a large fish-salting factory with a market attached to it.

At the beginning of the 5th century, a series of historical events occurred that meant, for this area, the abandonment of most of the coastal frontline settlements.
After the Muslim conquest, the observation of dispersed rural settlement is especially interesting. These populations would probably depend on the largest known settlement in the area at the moment: the fortress and medina located in present-day Casares.

The surroundings of the Guadiaro River and therefore the current border of Manilva with the province of Cádiz, would for years be the border of the Nazarite Kingdom of Granada. In 1485 Casares was handed over to the Christian troops, passing into the hands of the Duke of Cádiz.

It was not until 1530 when the “Cortijo de Manilva” was born, always dependent on Casares, its origin responded to the need to repopulate the lands closest to the coast to alleviate as much as possible the presence of North African piracy favored by the depopulation of these lands closest to the first line of the beach. Thus, numerous plots of land were granted by the Duke to repopulators of Casares.

The gradual increase in the population occurs under the protection of sugar cane cultivation and its industry and vineyards, authentic engines of Manilva’s economy for centuries.

In October 1796, the granting of the Royal Privilege of Villazgo to Manilva was achieved with the definitive segregation of what until then was its parent company, the town of Casares, assigning it its own municipal area.

Monuments

One of the most emblematic monuments of this town is the Duquesa Castle, built in 1767 by order of the Sevillian Francisco Paulino. It occupies the place where, in other times, there was a Roman villa to defend the coast from pirate invasions. This fortress is called Duquesa because it is located next to the beach that bears the same name.

Inside El Castillo de la Duquesa, we find the Municipal Archaeological Museum with exhibits from the 1st and 5th centuries.

Also, in Chullera, there are two beacon towers, one truncated and another older one with a cross base, the latter being the primitive tower from Nasrid times. In 1497, in the Instructions for the guarding of the Coast given by the Catholic Monarchs to the cities, towns and places of the Bishopric of Malaga, it was already called Torre de la Chullera.

Another must-see in this municipality is The Church of Santa Ana located in the so-called Plaza de la Iglesia. It was built in the 18th century, on top of another previous, smaller temple from the 16th century. The image of the Patroness of Manilva, Santa Ana, is preserved in this church.

Finally, it is recommended to stop by the Ingenio Chico, one of the two sugar mills that the Duke of Arcos built in these lands, and Villa Matilde, a house that was owned by Don Ignacio Infante, brother of Blas Infante, where remains are exhibited. Romans found in Manilva.

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